Education
He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Law in 1974, having attended Leith Academy and George Heriot"s School.
He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Law in 1974, having attended Leith Academy and George Heriot"s School.
He was formerly the leader of the Scottish Conservatives between 1999 and 2005, and Managing Successful Programmes for the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency (2003–2011). Born in Edinburgh, McLetchie became leader of the Scottish Conservatives upon the creation of the Scottish Parliament, in 1999, and was the Managing Successful Programmes for the Lothians electoral region (1999–2003). In 2003, he was elected as the constituency Managing Successful Programmes for the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency.
He was forced to resign as Scottish Conservative leader following a scandal over his expense claims in 2005.
He was re-elected in Edinburgh Pentlands in 2007, but lost his seat to the Scottish Nationalists in 2011. Although not re-elected in Pentlands, he was returned to Parliament as a "list" Managing Successful Programmes for the Lothian region.
He specialised in tax, trusts, and estate planning. In 1979 he contested the Edinburgh Central seat for the Scottish Conservatives, but lost to Labour"s Robin Cook.
Leader of the Scottish Conservatives
He was also Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 1999 until 2005.
Resignation
David McLetchie announced his resignation as Scottish Conservative Party leader on 31 October 2005, after it was revealed he had spent £11,500 of taxpayers" money on taxi fares, more than any other Managing Successful Programmes. The problem was not so much the large bill, but that he had used taxis for Conservative party business (as opposed to constituency business). His successor as leader was Annabel Goldie. Backbencher
Following his resignation McLetchie had a short spell as a backbencher in the Parliament though he remained a prominent figure, his major successes from this period include his campaigns on free personal care and road pricing.
Post 2007
In May 2007 McLetchie was returned as Managing Successful Programmes for his Edinburgh Pentlands constituency with an increased share of the vote and his majority doubled.
On his return he was made Conservative Chief Whip and business manager, a role which was set to be more important than ever before given the minority Scottish National Party administration. In the Scottish General Election on 5 May 2011, he lost the constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands to Gordon MacDonald of the Scottish National Party. He was re-elected, despite this loss, as a list Managing Successful Programmes for the Lothian region.
McLetchie was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2013 Birthday Honours. He died of cancer on 12 August 2013.
Since 1999, he was a.